Last week, Fred Minnick revealed the Top 25 Best Bourbons Around $40. Today, he takes the top 10 and tastes them live right here. They're all blind. What will be No. 1?

Contenders
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Public Ranking: 10
Analysis: This is Maker’s wheated bourbon profile at its best. Fred published a score of 92 in Bourbon Curious. However, this whiskey has not done well in his blind tastings, with Fred noting an overoaked note at times. But the product is a staple in the Minnick household.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
Public Ranking: 9
Analysis: Winner of Fred’s Best Everyday Bourbon in 2019, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond consistently wins over Fred’s palate. Will it return to No. 1?

Old Forester 100 Proof
Public Ranking: 8
Analysis: When writing tasting notes for Bourbon Curious, Fred rated Old Forester 100 an 89, a solid score for an everyday pour. In addition, BrownForman bourbons rate well in his blinds with King of Kentucky and Old Forester 1920 winning past taste offs. But those are big proofed bourbons. Will this 100 proofer stand out enough to win?

Old GrandDad 114
Public Ranking: 7
Analysis: While Old GrandDad 114 is often a fan favorite, it’s not fared well in Fred’s tastings, with past notes calling out raw grain notes. However, Fred loves Old GrandDad Bonded. Perhaps, this is the day 114 wins over his palate.

Four Roses Small Batch
Public Ranking: 6
Analysis: If Fred happens to be craving cinnamon before the tasting, Four Roses stands to win. Even if the spice note doesn’t show or impress, this is standard pour at Fred’s corporate tastings. It often beats the allocated products in blinds.

Elijah Craig Small Batch
Public Ranking: 5
Analysis: After Heaven Hill dropped the Elijah Craig 12 year age statement, Fred couldn’t look at a bottle of the latest version. The dude has issues! Anyway, he got over it and once again fell in love with the flavor profile.

Knob Creek
Public Ranking: 4
Analysis: Fred’s been on a Knob Creek bandwagon for a long time, releasing videos that encourage people to buy it over allocated $200 bourbons. It also won Best Bourbon at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where Fred voted for it. Knob Creek does very well with his palate.

Buffalo Trace
Public Ranking: 3
Analysis: When Fred reviewed Buffalo Trace for Whisky Advocate, he scored it an 88, noting a nutmeg note. But that’s been several years, and Buffalo Trace has not won any of his blind tastings. That being said, Buffalo Trace is a wild card if this bottle doesn’t have a particular offputting oak note.

Wild Turkey 101
Public Ranking: 2
Analysis: Wild Turkey 101 once beat Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year in a Fred blind tasting at Silver Dollar in Louisville. However, when in everyday taste offs, Wild Turkey 101 has been inconsistent, even finishing last before.

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Public Ranking: 1
Analysis: The only age stated bourbon in the lineup, Russell’s Reserve 10 year is a throwback to the old days. It’s packing tons of flavor. But five years ago for Whisky Advocate, he detected a bitterness that kept the whiskey from entering the 90point plus club. If that bitterness appears today, it will most certainly not win.



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Some products tasted on this show may have been provided to Fred Minnick at no cost to him. But that does not impact the honesty of the review. Fred's lowest scores came from whiskey samples.

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Please watch: "The Truth About Bourbon Heritage Month"
   • The Truth About Bourbon Heritage Month  
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